Improved FPT Algorithms for Deletion to Forest-Like Structures.

The Feedback Vertex Set problem is undoubtedly one of the most well-studied problems in Parameterized Complexity. In this problem, given an undirected graph G and a non-negative integer k, the objective is to test whether there exists a subset S ⊆ V (G) of size at most k such that G - S is a forest. After a long line of improvement, recently, Li and Nederlof [TALG, 2022] designed a randomized algorithm for the problem running in time O ⋆ (2. 7 k) ∗ . In the Parameterized Complexity literature, several problems around Feedback Vertex Set have been studied. Some of these include Independent Feedback Vertex Set (where the set S should be an independent set in G), Almost Forest Deletion and Pseudoforest Deletion. In Pseudoforest Deletion, each connected component in G - S has at most one cycle in it. However, in Almost Forest Deletion, the input is a graph G and non-negative integers k , ℓ ∈ N , and the objective is to test whether there exists a vertex subset S of size at most k, such that G - S is ℓ edges away from a forest. In this paper, using the methodology of Li and Nederlof [TALG, 2022], we obtain the current fastest algorithms for all these problems. In particular we obtain the following randomized algorithms. Independent Feedback Vertex Set can be solved in time O ⋆ (2. 7 k) . Pseudo Forest Deletion can be solved in time O ⋆ (2. 85 k) . Almost Forest Deletion can be solved in time O ⋆ (min { 2. 85 k · 8. 54 ℓ , 2. 7 k · 36. 61 ℓ , 3 k · 1. 78 ℓ }) . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]